TREME UNCTION AND HOLY ORDERS.

Q. 956. {271} What is the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?
A. Extreme Unction is the Sacrament which, through the anointing and
prayer of the priest, gives health and strength to the soul, and
sometimes to the body, when we are in danger of death from sickness.

Q. 957. Why is this Sacrament called Extreme Unction?
A. Extreme means last, and Unction means an anointing or rubbing with
oil, and because Catholics are anointed with oil at Baptism,
Confirmation and Holy Orders, the last Sacrament in, which oil is used
is called Extreme Unction, or the last Unction or anointing.

Q. 958. Is this Sacrament called Extreme Unction if the person recovers
after receiving it?
A. This Sacrament is always called Extreme Unction, even if it must be
given several times to the same person, for Extreme Unction is the
proper name of the Sacrament, and it may be given as often as a person
recovering from one attack of sickness is in danger of death by another.
In a lingering illness it may be repeated after a month or six weeks, if
the person slightly recovers and again relapses into a dangerous
condition.

Q. 959. To whom may Extreme Unction be given?
A. Extreme Unction may be given to all Christians dangerously ill, who
have ever been capable of committing sin after baptism and who have the
right dispositions for the Sacrament. Hence it is never given to
children who have not reached the use of reason, nor to persons who have
always been insane.

Q. 960. What are the right dispositions for Extreme Unction?
A. The right dispositions for Extreme Unction are: (1) Resignation to
the Will of God with regard to our recovery; (2) A state of grace or at
least contrition for sins committed, and (3) A general intention or
desire to receive the Sacrament. This Sacrament is never given to
heretics in danger of death, because they cannot be supposed to have the
intention necessary for receiving it, nor the desire to make use of the
Sacrament of Penance in putting themselves in a state of grace.

Q. 961. When and by whom was Extreme Unction instituted?
A. Extreme Unction was instituted at the time of the apostles, for James
the Apostle exhorts the sick to receive it. It was instituted by Our
Lord Himself--though we do not know at what particular time--for He
alone can make a visible act a means of grace, and the apostles and
their successors could never have believed Extreme Unction a Sacrament
and used it as suc